Medieval Christian Nubia | Accounts from John of Ephesus
Written by Bior Malual
Christianization
The beginning: Christianizing Nobatea: John to Ephesus
(Motive of Christianization)
The Christianization of the people of Nubian began sometime around late 6th century A.D. One member amongst the clergy of pope Theodosius of Alexandria by the name of Julienus had desired to Christianize a people dwelling on the eastern borders of Thebais beyond Egypt (Nobatians?). In hopes of achieving this desire he spoke of these people to Queen Theodore (of the Eastern Roman Empire) with the hopes of awakening a similar desire in her for their conversion. To his fortune, the queen received his message with joy and promised to do everything in her power for the conversions from “the errors of idolatry”.
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[p. 8] IV. [ch.6] About the barbarous people of the Nobades, and about the cause of their conversion to Christianity.<ref>Books i-iii deal with Constantinople events down to the year 582, Book iv narrates the conversion of the Nobades and Alodaei, beginning from 577 A.D. with flash backs to the earlier evangelization under Patriarch Thedosius, in exile at Constantinople as from 536.</ref>
Among the clergy in attendance upon pope Theodosius, was a presbyter named Julianus, an old man of great worth, who conceived an earnest spiritual desire to christianize the wandering people who dwell on the eastern borders of the Thebais beyond Egypt, and who are not only not subject to the authority of the Roman empire, but even receive a subsidy on condition that they do not enter nor pillage Egypt. The blessed Julianus, therefore being full of anxiety for these people, went and spoke about them to the late queen Theodore [d. 547], in the hope of awakening in her a similar desire for their conversion; and as the queen was fervent in zeal for God, she received the proposal with joy and promised to do everything in her power for the conversion of these tribes from the errors of idolatry.
(Reason why this was a problem)
- Relations between the King and the Pope
However, things would take sharp turn south as King Justinian & Pope Theodosius have an interesting backstory…. Pope Theodosius was the last patriarch, recognized by the coptic Orthodox Christians. He was the successor of the Pope Timothy the 3rd (32nd pope of Alexandria). He was 1st recognized by King Justinian I & the Eastern Orthodox church of Alexandria at an unknown date, sometime around the end of the reign of the last pope, but however he was rejected , and later exiled because of his Miaphysite theology. While king Justinian himself was of the Chalcedonian doctrine, which was the official doctrine of the Byzantine empire, however, Queen Theodore was of the Miaphysite doctrine, and this doctrine was of highest power in Egypt.
Explanation of the different Theologies of the Orthodox Church:
(Rush to Baptize the Nubians)
Once King Justinian of the Eastern Roman empire heard the news that a member from the clergy of Pope Thodosius was being sent, he wasn’t very pleased. He had a letter sent to his bishops ordering them to enter that district (Thebaid) & to instruct people to avoid mention of that Synyod. He also sent some ambassadors with gold, gifts, and baptism garments to & a letter to the Thebaid governor to forward them to the Nobadea.
The queen upon hearing of this sent a “cunningly” worded letter to the governor of Thabiad, threatening to take his life if her delegation of Church officials she sent didn’t reach the Nobadea (Nobatians) before the one of the Kings.
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Queens letter:
"In as much as both his majesty and myself have purposed to send an embassy to the people of the Nobadae, and I am now despatching a blessed man named Julian; and further my will is, that my ambassador should arrive at the aforesaid people before his majesty's; be warned, that, if you permit his ambassador to arrive there before mine, and do not hinder him by various pretexts until mine shall have reached you, and have passed through your province, and arrived at his destination, your life shall answer for it; for I will immediately send and take off your head".
Story:
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[p. 9] The king, however, hearing that she was sending somebody from that Synod which was opposed to him, did not like the thing, and arranged that a letter be dispatched to his bishops in the Thebaid district ordering them to enter the territory and instruct the people avoiding to mention that Synod. Hence he was himself with zeal and sent immediately some ambassadors with gold and baptismal garments and gifts destined to the king of that people and letters to the governor of Thebaid to take care of the ambassadors and forward them to that people. Therefore, as soon as the queen was informed of this, she wrote a letter, cunningly worded, to the governor of Thebaid, which was brought by an official. The letter was to this effect: "In as much as both his majesty and myself have purposed to send an embassy to the people of the Nobadae, and I am now despatching a blessed man named Julian; and further my will is, that my ambassador should arrive at the aforesaid people before his majesty's; be warned, that, if you permit his ambassador to arrive there before mine, and do not hinder him by various pretexts until mine shall have reached you, and have passed through your province, and arrived at his destination, your life shall answer for it; for I will immediately send and take off your head".Role in the Christian World
However, once the King’s ambassador reached Thebaid, he (the governerer of Thebaid) played hime off by saying “Be patient, while we look for & prepare the camels & the men who know the root of the desert: then you shall have them and enter that country”. They then waited for the ambassadors of the queen to arrive, when they came, they found the camel and supplies ready but pretended to seize them (camel and supplies) violently, and then ended up leaving 1st
After this, the Thebaid governor sent a letter to the Kings ambassadors written…
(Letter to Kings ambassador)
“ Lo! when I had made my preparation, and was desirous of sending [p. 10] you onward, ambassadors from the queen arrived, and fell upon me with violence, and took away the beasts of burden I had got ready, and have passed onward. And I am too well acquainted with the fear in which the queen is held, to venture to oppose them. But abide still with me, until I can make fresh preparations for you, and then you shall also go in peace".
After receiving this letter, the kings ambassador insulted the Thebaid governor, but eventually, after a couple of days, was able to leave without know the trick that was played on him.
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When the governor of Thebaid read this and the king's ambassador reached him, he played him off saying: "Be patient, while we look for and prepare the camels and the men who know the road of the desert: then you shall have them and enter that country". So he dismissed him and awaited till the ambassadors of the gentle queen arrived: they found the camels ready with the men and, the same day, without delay, they pretended to seize violently the camels and left first. The governor then sent a messenger to the king's ambassador: "Lo! when I had made my preparation, and was desirous of sending [p. 10] you onward, ambassadors from the queen arrived, and fell upon me with violence, and took away the beasts of burden I had got ready, and have passed onward. And I am too well acquainted with the fear in which the queen is held, to venture to oppose them. But abide still with me, until I can make fresh preparations for you, and then you shall also go in peace". The king's ambassador, hearing this, rent his garments, threatening and insulting [the governor]. After a few days he could proceed, too, and finally left, without detecting the trick played against him. (pp. 220 - 222).
After this when Julian and the Queens ambassadors arrived to Nobatia, they were received with great delight. An army was sent to meet with them who then lead him to be introduced to the king, who would receive many special gifts from the Roman king’s delegation. The people (the king of the Nobadea & his delegation?) then began to renounce the pagan ways of their ancestors. Confessing, “This is the one true God and no other beside him”.
Once this happened, Julien’s group then informed the king on the disputes of the Christian church, concerning the “blessed” Pope Theodosius who had been removed by the “bad” King & the Queen who “defended him (Pope Thodisius) valiantly”. They also informed him that he had also sent a delegation that was to not be accepted.
http://www.medievalnubia.info/dev/index.php/John_of_Ephesus
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They had been just instructed firmly in all these things, when the king's ambassador arrived; he also gave the king the letters and presents, and began to inform and tell him, according to his instructions, as follows: "The king of the Romans has sent us to you, that in case of your becoming Christians, you may cleave to the church and those who govern it, and not be led astray after those who have been expelled from it". And when the king of the Nobadae and his princes heard these things, they answered them, saying: "The honourable present which the king of the Romans has sent us we accept, and will also ourselves send him a present. But his faith we will not accept: for if we consent to become Christians, we shall walk after the example [of pope Theodosius] who, because he was not willing to accept the wicked faith of the king, was driven away by him and expelled from his church. If, therefore, we abandon our heathenism and errors, we cannot consent to fall into the wicked faith professed by the king". Then they dismissed the ambassadors, putting such things into writing.
Once this happened and the Kings ambassadors were rejected, Julian stayed in Nubia for around 2 years, baptizing the King and his noblemen, and arranging them with a bishop from Thebaid, by the name of Theodore. He then came back to Constantinople. He met with the queen who would meet him in rejoice, and he told many great things of the Nobatian people. Soon after however, pope Theodosius would soon die, and in his death bed, remembered the Nobatians because of Pope Julian, who had died earlier and whose loss was felt deeply, the queen Theodore also had died and requested that Longinus be appointed as their bishop and take the place of Julien. As he was a man capable f finishing the Christianization of the Nubians. Immediately after his death, Longinus was appointed as the ordained bishop.
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After having taught them and having organized the community, he entrusted them to that bishop, then left them [p. 12] and came to Constantinople. I was present when the queen received him with great honour and he used to tell many wonderful things about that great people, which things I omit because they are too many, being content with the few I relate, (p. 223). [ch.8] How the pious [pope] Theodosius on his death bed remembered this people [Nabados] and ordered that Longinus immediately be sent as their bishop. How Longinus went there to replace Julianus, who, having passed away, was lost to them. Pope Theodosius, on the day he died, remembered this people; more so, because the pious Julian, who had instructed them, had passed away and his loss was felt deeply. Queen Theodore, too, had died. Therefore, Theodosius gave orders that the pious Longinus should take the place of Julian, for Longinus was a men fired with zeal and capable of completing the conversion of the Nabados and strengthening them in the Christian religion. Immediately after the death of the pope, Longinus was ordained bishop of those countries and made preparations for the Journey. When he arrived in that country he was received with great rejoicing. He instructed all the people again in the Christian religion, preaching and enlightening them. He also built a church and established the clergy, organized the liturgy and set up all the church institutions, (pp. 225, 226).
After Longinus had been Bishop for 6 years, records say that “satan” had become envious of his good deeds, and caused discord in the Church. He was alater summoned to leave the country, after which, made the people of Nobatia very saddened. However, while Longinus was in Nubia, he actually traveled far beyond Nobatia, down south to the inner regions to a kingdom known as “Alodie” (Alodia).Which capital city was near modern day Khartoum. It was mentioned that these pope were believed to be Kushites. He talked with the king and many of his noblemen.
Christianizing Alodia:
The Journey:
With the help of Queen Theodore, queen Julian came to the country of Nobatia ,and within a couple of years, many of the king & his noblemen, as well as a decent amount of the populous had became Christianized. He couldn’t stay for long however, as he was exiled by the Melkites while he was in Alexandria. He was forced to flee into Arabia, until he received a message to Christianize the people of a land called “Alwa”. And so he traveled back, going through the Nubian desert, and avoiding the kingdom of Melkite Kingdom Makuria (under the Chalcedonian doctrine of King Justinian) on the way to Alodia. He then finally came and starting teaching, warning, and baptizing people into the faith of Coptic faith (Miasphyte).
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[ch.49] [The beginning of the conversion to Christianity of the people whom the Greeks call Alodaei and whom we think to be the Ethiopians.]
[p. 14] As we have related above, the blessed Julian, with the zealous help of queen Theodore, - may her soul rest in peace - came to the great people called Nobades and within two years he trained in the faith their king, their noblemen and great part of his subjects, then left the country after having entrusted the whole people to a certain very old bishop, Theodore by name, who resided at Philae, a town in the southern Thebaid on the borders of the aforesaid region. This bishop used to enter the country, visit the people and give admonitions and return to his town. The things went on like that for about eighteen years, then Longinus left<ref<Patriarch Theodosius while at Constantinople had ordained Longinus bishop [566] for Nubia. Longinus could not arrive in Nubia before 569. In 575 he was invited for the election of the new Patriarch of Alexandria. He went and secretly consecrated a patriarch of his party, but he had to leave for Arabia on account of the fierce persecution raised against him by the Melkites. While in Arabia, Longinus received the invitation to evangelize "'Alwa". He went to 'Alwa, journeying from Korosko through the Nubian desert, thus avoiding the "Melkite" kingdom of Muqurra.</ref> in disguise and came to them and instructed them again, warning them and teaching and baptising those who had remained unbaptised. He passed six years among them and a delegation came to the capital, with whom we have often talked; they used to praise Longinus very much extolling him and thanking him.
Once the king of Alodia had know that the Nobatians were converted, he began to send letter to the King of Nobatia requesting that they forward them the bishops that had converted them. However, the Chalcedonies under the Byzantine Emperor in the city if Alexandria had attempted to fool them (Alodians?) by sending over a delegation which was later rejected possibly by the king of Alodia. It was only after a “great labor” that the King of Alodia’s request was able to be fulfilled.
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When the people of the Alodaei knew that the Nobadae had been converted, their king sent a letter to the king of the Nobades, asking to send him [the bishop] who had taught and baptised the Nobades, that he might instruct and baptise also the Alodaei. But Longinus had received a letter from Alexandria and he had Immediately set out for the country of the Romans [i.e. Egypt] and had fallen into all the trials we described above<ref>Chapters IX-X [not reported here].</ref> and It was only after great labour and many efforts that the king of the Alodaei<ref>See note 7.</ref> could send a delegation to take him back to [p. 15] their, country. Then the Alexandrians<ref>John means the Melkites who were ruling Alexandria of Egypt with the support of the emperor of Constantinople.</ref>, as if moved by satanic envy, were striving to trick that king and his people and turn them against him so that they would not receive him; for this purpose they sent a delegation to the king - a thing against the church laws, we are told - which was not recognized nor received: "We shall not receive - they said - any other but our spiritual father who begat<ref>"Begat" or "would beget": in the first case, reference would be to the Nobades, in the second to the Alodaei. It is not clear who is the king to whom the delegation was sent; "Alodaei" has been supplied by the translator, but it is uncertain.</ref> us against by a spiritual generation and whatever his enemies say against him we hold as false". So they rejected and did not receive them. (pp. 203, 204).
Journey to Alodia:
This delegation sent by the Alexandrians was sent to fool the people about Longius, the bishop requested by the Kind of Alodia to convert him and his subjects. After this, another delegation was sent to the king of Nobatea, requesting Longinus, and they finally accepted. They sent Longinus down towards the country of Alodia with some men who knew the desert, and had to pass through the Kingdom of Makuria on their way. The King of Malaria however after hearing of the coming of Longinus, to go through Makuria, to the Kingdom of Alwa had delegated watch men in the outskirts of the kingdom to wait and possibly hinder his arrival to the country of Alwa. However, “by a miracle of God”, they seemed to not be able to catch Longinus, as he was “hidden by God”, and he arrived safely to the Kingdom of Alodia.
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When the Alexandrians learned that the king of the Alodaei had sent a second delegation to the king of the Nobades to send him Longinus, who had instructed him in the faith, then prompted by envious zeal, they sent a delegation to that people to excite them against Longinus and to introduce that ruin and transgression of the ecclesiastical discipline,<ref>The i.e. the Melkite confession.</ref> which they had started and to instruct them in it. Then they prepared a careful and deceiving letter for them in regard to Longinus. They did not fear God and so, moved by envy and hatred, they did not entertain thoughts of Justice; these would have showed to them that it was not according to the fear of God to convey in writing, immediately, before other things convenient to their conversion, what referred to [p. 16] the dissension, quarrels and schisms among Christians. And this to a people, who from error and paganism had asked to turn to Christianity and to learn God's fear. But, since, as aforesaid, their mind was clouded and their foolish intellect<ref> An implicit quotation from Eph. 4: 18 and Rom. 1:21.</ref> was blinded, instead of the fear of God, they laboured to set for them, as first basis, offensive enmity, by construing a letter against Longinus and sending it by means of two bishops - among those they had created contrary to the church laws - and of other people.
They wrote: "Since we heard that you asked that Longinus, at present with the Nobades, be sent to you in order to baptize you, we sent you the bishops and other people to inform you not to be baptized by that man, because he is a heretic and has been deposed, so that he cannot lawfully exercise his priestly functions anymore, nor baptize anybody" and other such things, which they wrote to instruct them In their dangerous belief. But God 'turned the reward of Nabal on his head'<ref>I Kings 25: 39.</ref> and, according to the Scripture, 'people who ignored the law of justice learned the law of justice and became a law to themselves while Israel, who followed the law, did not catch it'<ref>Agg. 1 : 14</ref>. So it happened in this case, that the Alexandrians should be scolded by a pagan people and be ashamed by not being received and, so ashamed and blushing, should return to their homes. Actually the Alodaei told them: "We know not who you are, nor can we receive you, nor be baptized by you: but we will receive him who baptized the Nobadae, and by him will be baptized. And as for what you say of him, we do not listen to its for [p. 17] we see that you are his enemies, and speak thus of him, from envy. Depart, therefore, from our land, that you die not miserably". So they left the country, they themselves and whatever they had said having been rejected, as if by God's intervention, who saw their ill intention and false zeal. (pp. 284, 285).
[ch.51] The narrative of Longinus entering the Alodian country and how he converted them with gladness and baptized them.
When the king of the Alodaei sent the delegation to the king of the Nobades, asking that bishop Longinus be sent to them to instruct his people and baptize them, it was clear that the good disposition of that people towards conversion had been produced in a certain miraculous way by God. Then 'God moved the spirit'<ref>Rom. 9 : 30f, and 2 : 14.</ref> of Longinus to depart and come to them; the king and nobles and chiefs [of the Nobades], though sorry that he should leave them, allowed him to go, in the company of some people who know the desert. On the road he got sick and so also some of his companions; as he writes in his letter, besides other animals, seventeen camels died in the desert because of the heat. Moreover, another people, called Macuritae, was midway between the two kingdoms; their king, informed that Longinus was on the way, was moved by satanic envy to place watchmen on all the borders of his kingdom, on all roads, mountains and plains up to the Suph [=Red] Sea, to hold Longinus and hamper the salvation of that great people of the Alodaei. God, however, hid him and blinded the eyes of those who wanted to hold him and 'he passed through them'<ref>Lk. 4 : 30</ref> without being seen by them.
Letter the King of Alodia sent to the King of Nobatia:
"Thy love is remembered by us, my lord, our brother Orfiulo<ref>The original Syria "Wrpywl" is differently vowelled by the interpreters: "Orfiulo" (Trimingham), Awarfiūlai. Perhaps, he may be identified with Eirpanome, king of the Nobades in 559.</ref>, because thou hast now shown thyself my true kinsman, and that not only in the body, but also in the spirit, in having sent hither our common spiritual father, who has shown me the way of truth, and of the true light of Christ our God, and has baptized me, and my nobles, and all my family. And in everything the work of Christ is multiplied, and I have hope in the holy God, and am desirous moreover of doing thy pleasure, and driving thy enemies from thy land. For he is not thy enemy alone, but also mine: for thy land is my land, and thy people my people. Let not their courage therefore fail, but be manful and take courage: for it is impossible for me to be careless of thee and thy land, especially now that I have become a Christian, [p. 19] by the help of my father, the holy father Longinus. As we have need, however, of church furniture, get some ready for us: for I feel certain that thou wilt send me these things with carefulness, and I will make thee an answer: but on the day on which I was keeping festival I did not wish to write, lest my letters should fail. Be not anxious then, but encourage thyself, and play the man: for Christ is with us".
Arival to Alodia:
After the King of Alodia sent his letter of request to the king of Nobatia, Longinus sent him a letter that went as follows, informing him on his soon arrival.
Letter from Longinus
"... Lest I tell you annoying details and be too prolix, I leave all other points and I tell you only a favourable one, which will certainly delight all of you, who are Christian and perfectly orthodox; ‘I rejoice and congratulate with you all and you also should rejoice and congratulate with me'<ref>Phil. 2: 17f.</ref>, that He, who wants all men live and does not want the death of a sinner like me, forgetting all my sins, was both mindful of his own mercy and benevolence, and opened the door of his mercy to me, by delivering me from the hands of those who chased me and He let me pass through them, blinding their eyes, so that they did not see me. Nevertheless we experienced both his kindness and his anger, since all those who were with my weakness fell into sickness, from the big to the [p. 20] small, I being the first to suffer from it. It was only just, that I should be the first punished, who by many sins and faults was the cause of the chastisement. Not only we fell sick and were almost despairing to escape, but also the beasts, which were with us, died, unable to bear the heat of the rocks, the thirst and the bad smell of the water, and seventeen of our camels died too.
After the King of Alodia was informed of his arrival, he sent 1 of his highest officials by the name of “Ikita” to meet with him and introduce him to the country. When he came the king was in great rejoice and came out to meet him in person. The king and his noblemen were then baptized.
However, because of the neighboring Kingdom of Axum, which was another Christian African Kingdom that had converted to Christianity a few centuries earlier, Christianity may have already been in Alodia before the arrival of Longinus.
Christianizing Makuria:
The Christianization of neighboring Mkauria isn’t as well documented in the text of John of Euphesus. However it is recorded that they were Christianized sometime before the kingdom of Alwa, and were Orthodox Christians under the Chalcedonian theology. Unlike their Nobatian and Alodian contemporaies. They would soon annex the Kingdom of Nobatia during the 7th century. This kingdom would also repulse later islamic invasions in the famous battle of Dongola, during the 7th century. Until the 12th century when the Nubians were then defeated by Salidin and his army. As well as with the Islamic, Arab inclusion into Sudan shortly after the Christian period.
https://isac.uchicago.edu/museum-exhibits/nubia/medieval-nubia
The Baqt regulated trade relations between Christian Nubia and Islamic Egypt for almost 600 years. Aswan and Qasr Ibrim were the centers for this trade, which focused on gold, ivory, and slaves, exchanged for Egyptian textiles, ceramics, and glass. In northern Nubia, trade was controlled by Muslim merchants who used coinage; the southern kingdoms conducted trade by barter as a royal monopoly. The great leader Saladin, who defeated the Crusaders in the Holy Land, attacked northern Nubia from Egypt in the 12th century. As Nubian kingdoms weakened, campaigns led by Egypt's Mamluk rulers and incursions of Arabs brought increasing Islamic influence to Nubia in the 14th and 15th centuries. Nubians gradually converted to Islam,
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Conclusion:
The Christian Era was another great period in history for Nubia and Sudan, which bright much cultural and societal change and is definitely not a chapter in history to be forgotten.
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